Written by two of the most popular authors on running, the Running Encyclopediaprovides a complete look at the sport's history, key figures, major events, and primary training theories and terms. More than 1,000 listings highlight the most influential runners, coaches, races, training methods, and events in modern history. You can use the book to look up reliable information on training topics such as threshold training, negative splits, and carbo loading. You'll also find more than 100 photographs that capture the history of road racing, including some rarely seen photographs from the early days of the sport. The race accounts, photos, and commentary will make you feel as though you witnessed each event. More than five million runners in the United States compete in road races from the 5K to the marathon every year, and millions more watch everything from regional road races to the Olympics. Despite such widespread popularity and a history of spectacular races and intriguing personalities, no one ever before has compiled a comprehensive encyclopedia of the sport. Now two of the most popular writers on running have joined forces to give runners the definitive reference on the sport. The Running Encyclopediais an omnibus history of road racing, an easy-to-use source of solid information, and, at the same time, simply a good read. The book provides a complete look at the sport's history, key figures, major events, and primary training theories and terms. It brings together the incredible, the outrageous, the seemingly mundane, the startling, the astounding, and the unforgettable people and places that have made road racing perhaps the most popular adult sport in the world. The authors' personal experiences lend a new perspective on events and figures that you may already be familiar with. Whether you choose to let the book fall open to a random listing, look up a specific subject, or read the tome through from A to Z, you'll pull the Running Encyclopediafrom your shelf again and again.